Got to respect a company to goes on a 10 year journey with over 200 prototypes to create a wetsuit that lets you enjoy the outdoors while not contributing to its degradation.
Patagonia’s new Yulex Wetsuits are the product of a decade of R&D and they are proud not only to have developed a new type of wetsuit material but to grown their own rubber in an sustainable fashion. Well done Patagonia. Top of the list when I need a new suit:
“Our neoprene-free Yulex® wetsuits feature 85% natural rubber by polymer content, replacing a petroleum-based material with a plant-based one for significantly reduced CO2 emissions in the manufacturing process. We blend it with 15% synthetic rubber polymer for increased ozone and UV resistance to meet our rigorous demands for durability and strength. The Yulex emulsion removes over 99% of impurities and delivers a stronger, non-sensitizing natural material. 
We grow our own. (And we don’t cut down rainforests to do it.)” Certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards by the Rainforest Alliance, our Yulex® natural rubber sources are compliant with strict social and environmental guidelines for responsible forest management. Plant sources are irrigated by ambient rainfall and a recycled water supply is used in manufacturing.
Using natural rubber in place of nonrenewable, energy-intensive neoprene means up to ~80% less climate-altering CO2 is emitted in the polymer manufacturing process.”
